Karl Brommann Untersturmführer in the SS troops during World War II. Date of Birth: 20.07.1920 Country: Germany

Biography of Karl Brommann

Karl Brommann was born on July 20, 1920, in Neumünster, Holstein. At the age of seventeen, he joined the SS troops voluntarily and was assigned to the 2nd Brandenburg Regiment, a division called "SS Totenkopf" or "SS Death's Head." He was given the SS number 316479. In 1938, Brommann participated in Hitler's annexation of Austria and the occupation of the Sudetenland.

With the outbreak of World War II, Karl was sent to the 6th SS Mountain Division "Nord" and fought in Finland. He was wounded twice during his service, first in both arms and legs, and then suffered a serious lung injury. After spending almost a year in the hospital, he recovered from his injuries and returned to active duty. In May 1943, he was assigned to the 11th SS Panzergrenadier Division "Nordland" and fought on the Eastern Front. During this time, Karl was promoted to the rank of Obersturmführer.

In October 1943, Brommann was transferred to the newly formed 103rd SS Heavy Panzer Battalion. He learned to operate the German tank "Tiger." In October 1944, the battalion received its first "Tiger II" tanks, and on January 27, 1945, Karl was sent to the Eastern Front. After his arrival, Brommann participated in fierce battles in the area around Stettin (now Szczecin). He was also involved in the history of the escape of refugees from East Prussia. On the night of February 17-18, 1945, his battalion was loaded onto trains and transported to Danzig. During the battles in Danzig and Sopot, Untersturmführer Brommann, as the commander of the second company, destroyed 66 tanks, 44 anti-tank guns, and 15 vehicles. As a result of this operation, he was awarded the Knight's Cross. His military achievements were mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht, the daily report of the supreme command of the Wehrmacht, on April 10, 1945.

In March 1945, Brommann was wounded for the third time. He suffered burns to his head and hands, as well as an injury to his eye from a foreign object. Karl was evacuated on a medical train to Flensburg. He was captured by the British on May 21, 1945, and remained in captivity until November 1947. After regaining his freedom, Brommann went on to study as a dental technician at a university clinic in Germany. He passed away at the age of 90 on June 30, 2011.